Leg outline

[buzkill]

sometimes i'll go to grab my cham and her body will be a dark green or w/e color, and but when she moves her legs there is a distinct outline of where her legs wee in a lighter color... i quite like this effect, but i have no idea why this happens. i thought their color wasn't to blend in but was just for mood, this seems to counter that. any ideas why this happens or anyone with the same thing?

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Greetings. I have seen this in our chams, as well. I think this may be the cause: The exposed area of skin is darker so it can absorb more heat from a heat/light source. The skin covered by the leg does not need to be dark, since it is not exposed to the source of heat. Changing the scale colors takes energy, so they only change the necessary scales in order to conserve energy.

 

[buzkill]

thats awesome. make since to. I wish i could change color.

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

The reaction more likely has to do with blending in among he leaves and
absorbing the most UV available rather than conserving energy.